Clothes-reel



(No Model.)-

LN. SMALL. Clothes Reel.

- Patented Junel4,.l881.

strung, and secured in position by set-screws UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC N. SMALL, OF NORWAY, MAINE.

CLOTHES-REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,799, dated June 14, 1881.

A Application filed March as, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC N. SMALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norway, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clothes-Reels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the aceom panyin g drawings, forming a part thereof.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing the device open ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, showing the device closed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a m of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation with portions broken away to show the construction and arrangement of the spring-stop.

The object of my invention is to furnish a cheap, light, portable, and durable reel or rack on which to dry clothes and other articles; and to this end myinvention consists in providing the reel head or hub with spring-stops, and in so pivoting the arms of the reel to the reel head or hub that each arm will rest on and be supported on the rear end of the preceding arm, so that when all the arms are brought down into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position the last arm so brought down into said position will look all of the other arms in position, and thus provide a cheap and substantial support for the purpose above stated.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the standard, of any suitable construction, supported inany desirable manner, on which one or more of the heads or hubs are placed or or division rings or boxes; or, where but a single head or hub is used, an excavation or hole may be partially made therethrough, so as to allow said head or hub to rest on the top of the standard, as shown in Fig. 1.

B is the reel head or hub, made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, such as clay, artificial-stone composition, or substances capable of being molded into the desired form, and is, by preference, made square in crosssection, but may be made sexangular, octagonal, or with any desirable or convenient number of sides without departing from the spirit of my invention.

0 are the arms pivoted to the hub or head at a, near the edgeof the side or flat portion of the hub or head, and at a sufficient distance from the rear end of said arm to allow said rear end to project a sufiicient distance beyond the side of the hub to allow another or a following arm to rest and be supported thereon, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. The cords or lines are attached to the arms in the usual manner and in any desired number.

The head or hub 13 is provided on its various sides with mortises or grooves D, in which are inserted coiled springs e, which press against the inner ends of the bolts or bars E, to keep the outer end of the same extended beyond the face of the hub or head. The boltsE are provided with a slot, 1), through which a pin is'inserted to hold the bolt within the mortise. The bolts E are also provided with a shoulder or oifset, c, which serves to prevent the spiral spring from getting out of position. The bolts E are beveled from their lower to their upper edges, so as to allow the ends of the arms 0 to slide over them or force them back into the mortise, so that when the arms 0 have passed over the bolt the bolts will be forced forward by the action of the springs and be a support for said arms.

I do not wish to confine myself to this means of support, as it is obvious that a strap spring, or other means of support, to prevent the arms from being thrown or turned upward by gusts of wind or other causes, will be within the spirit of my invention. For ordinary purposes a standard with a single head or reel will be sufficient; but for the drying of small articles which will not extend below the cor-dssuch as wool, cotton, &c., in a loose or spun stateany desired number of reels may be placed on a single standard, thus economizing space.

When the heads or hubs are intended to be strung on the standard, as above stated, they will be provided with a central hole extending entirely through the same, through which the standard is passed.

The standard or support A may be a permanent fixture in the yard or drying-compartment, as the light and convenient construction of the reel will enable any one to readily remove the same to a place of shelter.

When it is desired to use the reel it is properly secured on the standard, and the arms 0 brought down into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position, so that the springs or bolts will be forced out under the rear end of the arm and prevent said arm from being raised or swung into a vertical position until the spring is pressed in out of the way. The rear projecting portion of the arm affords a support for the next following arm, so that when the last arm of the set or series is brought down into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position all the arms will be locked in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding clothes drier or reel, the arms 0, pivoted to the hub or head, as described, and provided with rear extensions passing beyond the side of the head, as shown, to form a support for the front part of the next following ISAAC N. SMALL. [L.

Witnesses:

CHARLES 13. WHITMAN, MARCUS F. BROOKS. 

